1 Samuel 23:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The two friends renew their covenant before the Lord, then part ways.
What Does 1 Samuel 23:18 Mean?
David and Jonathan renew their bond, making a covenant 'before the LORD.' Then they part -- David remains in the wilderness woods, and Jonathan returns home to his father's house and an uncertain future. It is, as it turns out, their last recorded meeting.
Their friendship is sealed not by sentiment alone but before God, who is its witness and guarantor. They part to walk hard and separate roads, yet held together by a covenant grounded in the Lord. Faithful love does not always mean staying side by side; sometimes it means binding one another to God and trusting Him to keep what human hands must release. Covenants made before the Lord outlast every parting.
1 Samuel 23:18 in the Original Language
berith (בְּרִית), ''covenant'' -- a binding, solemn bond, here sworn in God's presence.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 23:18
What does 1 Samuel 23:18 mean?
The two friends renew their covenant before the Lord, then part ways.